Cotton-press



2 SheetsSheet 1.

I Pjc. CLOSE.

(No Model.)

COTTON PRESS.

ented June 2, 1885.

N. FEIERS FhcioLh vgrap-Mr, Wuhington, an

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P. 0. CLOSE.

COTTON PRESS.

Patented June 2, 1885.

@ZMU 5y 6A2.

R PETERS. PhcwLilhcgraphar, Wamingzcn, n. C.

ihvrrnn STATES PATENT Search.

PHILIP O. CLOSE, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

COTTON- PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,196, dated June 2,1835.

Application filed October G, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP (1. Chess, a citizen of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county of Richmond and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton and Hay Presses, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompany ing drawings.

This invention relates to cotton-compressors of that class in which steam is employed as the motive power; and the main object of the invention is to devise such mechanical connections between the steam-cylinder and the platen of the press as shall most directly convey the power and motion of the one to the other, and which at the same time shall be simple in construction.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, Fig. 2 is an end elevation, and Fig. 3 a section, of a portion of a compressor constructed in accordance with my invention.

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

To a suitable base, A, (or it may be formed as a part thereof,) is secured a steam-cylinder, B, having a supply-pipe, B, and an exhaust-pipe, B. (See Fig. 3.) The piston B" of the cylinder is provided with two upright double wedges, B arranged side by side, and with their working-faces B inclined in opposite directions. These upright wedges may be formed separate from and secured to or as a part of the piston 13*. From the base there extend two uprights, C, and from one to the other of these, near their upper ends, extends a platen, D, of the compressor or press. The follower E of the press is constructed or slotted to slide on the uprights, and extends from one to the other, as does the platen. Between the follower and the base, and at each end of the press, are arranged togglelevers F F. having pivoted connections with the platen at E and with the base at A. A cross-head, G, is secured to the upper ends of the double wedges B and is adapted to slide upon the guides or uprights O, and from this head G ropes or chains H extend over pulleys H, and are provided with weights H the function of which is to counterbalance the weight of the piston-head and its wedges in order to facilitate smoothness of operation in the entire apparatus. At the central joint, F", of the toggle-levers, and upon the pivot of that joint,

are mounted friction-rollers I I, while at the central joint and upon the pivot of the opposite toggle-levers are mounted friction-rollers J J. upon the working-faces Bof the outer wedges 13 while the rollers J J are adapted to travel upon the working-faces B of the inner wedges. Now, if the vertical edge of the wedge is cut away or provided with a large slot, as shown in dotted lines at B Fig. 3, the pivot F, upon which the rollers J J are mounted, may be made to pass inwardly from the uprights when said rollers ride upon the working-faces of the inner wedges. A similar slotting of the opposite wedges will permit the pivot F to travel inwardly and the rollers I I a suflicient distance upon the working-face of the outer wedges to accomplish the object in view; but in order to strengthen the toggle-levers at the pivoted joint and to provide means for controlling and supporting the friction -rollers without slotting the wedges, the yokes K K are provided, which overhang and embrace the wedges, and are mounted upon the pivots F, the upper ends of the yokes being connected with the pivots E by straps K and in this construction the members F of the togglelevers, in connection with the outside rollers, I I, are arranged outside of the wedges, while the equivalent members of the opposite toggle pass between the wedges, and a single central arm (not shown, but similar to the arms K and arranged between them) projects downward from the yoke K, and all three embrace the pivot F As a means of adjusting the relative position of the bed and platen so as to increase and decrease at will the extent of compression with a given throw of the piston B", the up per ends of the guides O are screw-threaded and provided with miter-gear nuts 0, with which miter-gears G mesh, said gears being mounted on the cross-shaft 0 arranged above the platen. Upon the cross-shaft is a grooved pulley, 0*, (shown with its upper portion broken away,) over which a rope or chain may be passed for the purpose of operating said shaft in either direction to raise or lower the platen with ropes or donkey engine. Suitable braces, L, are employed to strengthen the structure The rollers I 1 are adapted to traveland maintain the parts in proper relative position. Now, it will be seen that as steam is supplied to the cylinder the piston willibe forced from its bottom upwardly, and in its movement the wedges will spread the rolls I I J J outwardly from the center and from side to side, carrying with them the toggles, so as to force the latter into or nearly to an upright position, and they in turn force the follower upwardly toward the platen, thus compressing the bale, which is inserted between these elements. In this operation the direct longitudinal movement of the cylinder is utilized directly at the working-points of the'toggle-levers, and thereby, without undue friction, great pressure is produced between the follower and platen. A return movement of the piston by its gravity is occasioned by cutting off the supply of steam through the pipe B and opening the exhaust B I do not limit myself to the exact construc tion of detail herein shown and described, as the same may in many minor respects be varied in accordance with the skill of persons conversant with the construction of machinery of this class without a departure from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim is- 1. In a cotton-compressor of the class described, a piston provided with oppositely-arranged wedges, in combination with toggle-levers provided with rollers constructed to operate in connection with said wedges, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a steam-cylinder, a piston provided with wedges, toggle levers provided with rollers, a platen, and a follower, substantially as specified.

vided with the wedges B and the toggle-levers F F, provided with the rollers II J J, and the follower E, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination of the cylinder B, the piston B, having the wedges B, the eross'head G, the toggle F F, provided with friction-rolL ers, the yokes K K, the straps K and the piston E, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination of the base having the guides G, platen D, nut 0, gear 0 and shaft 0 substantially as shown and described;

7. The combination of the base A, the cylinder B, having the supply-pipe BLand exhaust B the piston B, provided with oppositelyarranged double wedges B the cross-head G, toggle-levers F F, rolls I I J J, yokes K K, straps K follower E, and platen, substantially as shown and described.

8. The piston B, provided with wedges B having oppositely-arranged working-faces B", substantially as shown and'described.

9. The toggle-levers F F, in combination with the yoke K and strap K substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP O. CLOSE.

Witnesses: I

CHARLES W. DOUGHTY, N. D. VAN PELT. 

